Oladipo, Pacers end Cavaliers 13-game winning streak

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Victor Oladipo had 33 points and eight rebounds and the Indiana Pacers beat Cleveland 106-102 on Friday night to end the Cavaliers’ winning streak at 13 games.

Indiana has won three straight, nine of 12 and is the first team to beat the Cavaliers twice this season.

LeBron James had 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for Cleveland, and Kevin Love added 20 points. The Cavs lost for the first time since Nov. 9 at Houston. They had won seven straight on the road.

The Pacers used an 11-2 run late in the third quarter to retake the lead and Cleveland never regained the upper hand. It sure wasn’t easy, though.

Cleveland trailed 93-86 with 9:43 to play and fought fiercely to extend the streak. The Cavs got as close as 96-95 on J.R. Smith’s 3-pointer with 2:48 left.

But Bojan Bogdanovic answered with a 3, Oladipo made one of two free throws and hit down another 3 to extend the lead it 103-97 with 1:01 left.

The Cavs again made it a one-possession on Smith’s 3 with 10 seconds to go.

This time, Corey Joseph made two free throws, Love missed a 3, and Myles Turner grabbed the rebound to seal the win.

TIP-INS

Cavaliers: Cleveland played without center Tristan Thompson and guards Isaiah Thomas, Derrick Rose and Iman Shumpert. … The Cavs have scored 100 or more points in 19 straight games, the third-longest streak in franchise history. … Cleveland had 11 3s, its 15th consecutive game with 10 or more. They can tie the longest streak in franchise history Saturday.

Pacers: Continue to be impressive at home. Indiana is 9-4 and has won four straight at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. …. The Pacers went 15 of 39 on 3s and improved to 11-2 when making 10 or more this season. … The Pacers had a 50-44 rebounding advantage. … Myles Turner had 15 points and seven rebounds.

UP NEXT

Cavaliers: Return home Saturday against Philadelphia for their first back-to-back sequence since late October.

Pacers: Hosts Denver on Sunday and will try to snap a two-game losing streak in the series.